The DR Congo army and M23 fighters clashed outside Goma on Friday as the UK, United States and France urged citizens to leave the main city in the country's volatile east, warning the situation could deteriorate rapidly.

Thousands of people have fled their homes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as clashes between M23 rebels and government forces intensify. The Rwanda-backed armed group has captured a string of towns over the last few days,

Explosions rocked the ground in the main city in DR Congo's east on Friday as intensifying clashes between the country's army and M23 fighters gripped the region.In the centre of the city of Goma schools were shut,

While M23 rebels closed in on Goma, a major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the US, UK and France on Friday called on their nationals to leave the area. Clashes between the Congolese army and rebels have triggered a humanitarian crisis as diplomatic efforts to mediate talks between Congolese and Rwandan leaders have failed.

File photo taken on April 11 2024 shows Peter Cirimwami the military governor of North Kivu in an interview in Goma

Civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are at increasing risk as the abusive M23 armed group, supported by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), approaches Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

The UK, US and France have urged their citizens to leave Goma, the main city in the volatile east of DRCongo encircled by fierce fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 group.

The governor of Congo's North-Kivu province has died amid escalating tensions as M23 rebels advance towards Goma. Maj. Gen Peter Cirimwami succumbed to injuries sustained while visiting troops on the front line.

In tonight's edition, UN peacekeepers were 'engaged' in 'intense' fighting with the M23 rebels on the outskirts of Goma. Also, at least 242 million children had their schooling disrupted last year due to conflict and extreme climate events,

The EU issued a statement expressing deep concern about the continued escalation of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), aggravated by the renewed offensive of the M23 supported by the Rwandan Armed Forces.

"Africa can expect substantial changes from the United States over the next four years," Rama Yade, director of the Atlantic Council's Africa Center, wrote in a pre-Inauguration analysis. While Donald Trump in his first term pursued an "America first" foreign policy,